New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
THE HARLEM BRIDGE AGAIN.
MORE LITIGATION ON HAND.

CONTRACTOR MQUADE TO SUE FOR HEAVY DAM
AGES
rrouble, thcken and grow apace about the Harlem
Bridge Commissioners Whatever they do or whatever
they don't do. alike adds 70 their purden "ech aso
thev learned through THE TRIBUNE that the Union Bridge
omnanv through Adrancc Bush the lawyer was about
o hiring suit against them for damages for breach OF
contract This morning they viii discover that Morgan
J. O'Bren ia drawing up the papers In an action on DC
half of Contractor John McQuade for damages 10 the
amount OF about 100000 Mr.. McQuade VIII sue inc
commissioners individually well as In their Official
capacity His complaint based upon their rejection OF
ht hid for the asonwork on the bridge Last spring.
after THE TRnuSE had exposed their astonishing con-
tract with the Union Bridge Company and the Assembly
had brought its nquistoa powers To hear upon the W
find out what they had been doing. they
patched mp some sort OF agreemeh' win
the Union Bridge Company by which they thonght .he
scvos In position to deny that such contract had
ever been made
Wha. this agreement was will be brought out In court
upon the trial OF the bridge companys snit Mr. BUSH
declares that it impaired his clients contract
rights and that far from warranting the comms
sioners I'm DENYING that contract had been made When
Messrs Jacob Iorillard David James King and Vernon
II Brown declared the Assembly over their personal
SIGNATURES and under their official seal that no con-
tract with the Union Bridge Company
had ever been entered into, tho company
had in its possession duly executed con
tract and an order directing them to begin work, ana
monument city official who had written to one OF the com
ms.ioners urging him not to be party 10 such an ih
proper contract says that lie had in his possession
letter from the commissioner Mr. Lorlard. saying that
b advice came too late the papers were already
signed.
IN. contract agreement however in the opinion
nj the commissioners justified them In asking for BIDS
They published such an advertisements john McQmdo
sent in proposal Before doing So he was careful to 90
audn n
call for bids was made in good faith. Mr. Koew said he
,bougbt Il was that the commissioners had brought so
much trouble upon themselves by their methods that ne
believed they meant do better now and he felt Jus-
fed by what they had said TO him. In assuring MT MO
ousdc that II he was the lowest bidder and furnished
nroper security he would receive the award Mr. Loew
afterward saw Commissioners Lorillard and King ana
g old ,hem what he had said TO Mr. McQuade They as
surcd him that lie right, and that II MT
McQuade was in fact the lowest bidder ana
did produce satisfactory security he would certainly
obtain the award
Accordingly Mr. McQuade made his estimate. lie felt
reasonably sure that ooud furnish the lowest bid he
cause he had then on hand large supply OF stone When
te bids were opened his figures for the mason work wero
81 Og3 4O7 60 whic sum less by SljOOoo than the
next lowest bidder The Union Bridge Company had put
in the lowest bid for the iron work Together Their
offers would make the bridge cost sl,IsO,oo' oo
But they did not get the award. The commissioners
tractor guaranteed the work Of The other The Union Bridge
Company declined responsible for any one but Itself
MIR uadc thereupon perfected an ARRANGEMENT by
which he and New-Jerscy steel and Iron company
inundated the commissioners. They offered 10 DO
the work under mutual guarantees. for -l9ssVVo bnt
sl the commissioners held OH They said they dld not
think Mr. McQuAde could afford 90 do tho work Tor that
amount He said that he could and was willing 10 ha'k
his Judgment with his money. lie would give tcW
any bonds they required. aud IL tney were
sti dubious, he woId put up in their hands or ,on-
troler IOews forfeiture in Government bonds az large
n- they demanded But the commissioners continued Z"
hold on and after several months had passed by they
AWARDED the contract Miles Tcrncy and the fassac
Rolling MIL Company, the former 10 DO inc stone "oiA
and the latter the iron work, for e2.O93,OOO
II 4, against this action that Mr. Mcgunde Intends 10
protest in the courts HIS counsel. Mr. OB1en, sald
Yesterday: shall bring this action - soon q, can
finish drawing up the papers, and shan claim n dhi-
agc- $500 900 the my client lost bN fhng I"
our case i good one ines" com
missioner have under the utterly vicious law which ere
aicd them plenary powers, and We can't nandais h' IN
10 compel the epianco OF Oder But having once
called for bids they cannot reject them wantouy' ani
7 in the face OF their own assurances. II We cannon
Get damages. shall ~ least have IL" hats
faction Of knowing Their reasons for spending hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars OF public money more ihn there
was any need 10 spend. Our bid balanc ed bid We
I should have had "a build the bridge TOT
lie SUN named. and could not have goi
a penny more. The conduct of the comnI-'ioncr.
has been outrageous In all experience never mel
such extraordinary methods We propose To SEQ II there
account for thoir ihisooho"o@